Method and system for providing a virus-immune, rule-based cross-platform software system

Abstract

A method and system for providing a virus-immune, rule-base, cross-platform software system is disclosed. The system can be configured provide industry-specific and user-specific functionality to end-users without writing custom code. The system can be also be configured act as an industry-specific software product merely by changing the configuration information. The software system deploys in a client-server environment and delivers functionality independent of the client platform or operating system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 323,575 filed Sep. 19, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates in general to software systems, and in particular to an architecture configured to provide a virus-immune and interoperable software system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Recently, a large variety of new computer-based business and manufacturing automation systems have been introduced. New hardware products are coming out at an incredible rate, while new software products are being introduced even more quickly. Although the data analysis, information management and control capabilities brought by these new products have certainly been of great benefit, the products, when installed and configured, seldom meet expectations at anywhere near the projected costs.[0004]One significant problem is constant, never-ending software development. Although the capabilities and features of software p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the single application and server platform on which it operates is secure. The server platform and operating system implement the “Reference Monitor” software security architecture that is well-known in the art to provide a “Trusted Computing Base” (TCB). The reference monitor enforces a predetermined (and adjustable) system security policy by controlling the access of every subject to every object in the software system. The reference monitor maintains an access control list (ACL) which determines which subjects have access to which objects and the manner of allowed access. Subjects can be active entities, user processes, etc. while objects can be files, directories, passive data repositories, etc. The reference monitor also maintains a tamper proof audit trail so that security-related events can be tracked and reported. The single application uses this TCB as the platform to help ensure its security.

[0027]In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method and system are provided which allows the single application to be reconfigured to alter its functionality while it is running and without interrupting its current operation. Further, the altered functionality is made available to all client machines without the need for installing additional software, rebooting or reworking in any way.

Problems solved by technology

Further, these single-vendor-controlled interfaces / standards only apply to Microsoft operating systems and Wintel platforms.

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